Description:

“Health Disparities and Kidney Disease: the Role of APOL1”

The lifetime risk of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) among African Americans and Hispanics is over 4-fold and 2-fold higher, respectively, compared to Caucasians. Differences in access to care and other socioeconomic factors do not entirely account for the markedly higher rates of ESKD among African Americans and Hispanics, which suggests a strong role for genetic factors. Recently, a region of chromosome 22, which includes APOL1 gene, was identified through admixture mapping methods as a risk locus for non-diabetic forms of kidney disease. Variants in the region are more common in individuals of African descent (Yorubas of South Western Nigeria) compared with those of European descent. The discovery of these common variants may provide a new avenue for the identificatiion of individuals at strong risk for not only ESKD but also perhaps cardiovascular disease but more research is needed.

Faculty candidate
Holly Kramer, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and Public Health Sciences
Loyola University Medical Center

Friday, May 23, 2014
11a - 12 p.m.
Stamler Conference Room
Suite 1400, 14th Floor
680 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60611

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